There are several types of hamsters and most are not social. Dwarf hamsters are the only hamsters that can be raised and housed together when they are adults. Syrian hamsters on the other hand will fight all the time if housed together as adults, even if they are siblings. Syrian hamsters or Teddy bear hamsters as they are sometimes called, should always be housed in their own cage. You should remember one hamster per cage in most cases.
Even though dwarf hamsters can be housed together in the same cage, if fighting amongst them starts and gets bad you should get another cage and house each of the separately. Sometimes they will live together and get along wonderfully, and other times there will be nonstop fighting. Dwarf hamsters will play fight when they are awake. You can tell it’s play fighting when you hear the squeaking and they look like they are tackling one another, but neither hamster is seriously getting hurt. This is totally normal behavior.
Female dwarf hamsters are more likely to fight with one another if one is more dominate than the other or if one is larger than the other one. They will also fight is one is pregnant. If you buy two dwarf hamsters from a pet store and they start fighting when you get them home, you should separate them into their own cages.
Always closely watch new female hamsters for signs they are pregnant. If you notice your female hamster is more aggressive, making a nest, has a swollen belly or her nipples have formed, she may be pregnant. You should make an appointment with a Veterinarian to make sure her and her babies are healthy.
If you want to breed your Syrian hamsters you will need to bring the female and the males together in a neutral place when she is in heat. When they are done doing their business put both of them back in their own cage. Even though they may have babies together, they can’t live together. Syrian hamsters like to have their homes all t themselves. Syrian hamsters can inflict serious damage to each other when fighting, so make sure you do everything you can to prevent fights from breaking out.
If you keep several dwarf hamsters in the same cage, you should take all of them out to play with you at the same time. Hamsters are forgetful and if kept apart from their cage mates for too long may fight because they may lose the group scent that tells them they are friends. Hamster will groom each other and sometimes if they get too rough you will hear a little squeaking noise. They are letting the other hamster know they are being too rough and in most cases the hamster will stop.
Make sure you give your hamsters lots to do in their cage so they don’t get bored and frustrated and fight with their cage mates. The more toys they have to play with the better for their health and it keeps them happy.
You should only keep one breed of hamster housed together; never try caging a Syrian and a Dwarf hamster in the same cage. They may fight to the end and it may cause them to die from being stressed out.
